The Daily Beans – "Coup d'Trump"

Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG), Dana Goldberg (DG)
Podcast: The Daily Beans (MSW Media)

Episode Overview

This explosive episode covers the unauthorized U.S. invasion of Venezuela ordered by the Trump administration, the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and the subsequent political and global fallout. Allison and Dana dig into the operation's real motivations (oil), international reactions, congressional impotence, and the disturbing precedent being set. The show also highlights ongoing efforts in the Epstein FOIA case, the five-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack, and some encouraging news from Texas Democrats.

The discussion is delivered with characteristic snark, outrage, and insight, providing context and critical analysis, as well as moments of cathartic humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marking 5 Years Since January 6 and the Podcast’s Origins

• [00:57–03:20] AG and DG reflect on the Charismatic Megaplastics episode (recorded Jan. 5, 2021, the day before the insurrection).
  • Quote: “How many more impeachable things can he do between now and Jan. 20th?” – Dana, referencing her words from five years ago.
  • AG discusses creating a condensed 90-minute highlight reel of Jack Smith’s 8.5-hour testimony (available on her Substack).
  • AG details her and her lawyer’s recent “bench-slapping” of the DOJ in the Epstein training video FOIA case ([03:32–04:17]).

2. Headline: U.S. Invasion of Venezuela

Operation Details, Motivation & Reporting

• [04:27–08:42] Citing the New York Times and David Sanger:

  • U.S. troops, on Trump’s orders, invaded Venezuela, arrested Maduro and the first lady, and declared long-term American management of the country.
  • Justification given: drug trafficking/narco-terrorism. Real reason: oil.
  • CIA had spent months spying, with internal help from Venezuelan sources.
  • Operation conducted without congressional approval or adequate briefing.
  • Trump stated that “Congress can’t be trusted because Congress has a tendency to leak.” ([06:30])
  • AG speculates about Erik Prince’s mercenaries' involvement.

• Quote [07:22]:

  • “Trump said she [VP Delsey Rodriguez] can hold power as long as she does what we want.” – AG
  • DG: “Which is not true.” [Re: Venezuela stealing U.S. oil rights]

Legal and Geopolitical Reactions

• [08:42–12:19]

  • UN, Russia, China, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico condemn the invasion as illegal overreach.

  • European leaders hypocritically pleased at Maduro’s ouster, but wary; cautious to criticize the U.S.

  • Democrats (e.g., Ruben Gallego, Zoran Mamdani) slam the invasion as illegal and American imperialism.

  • Most Republicans support the move, though isolationist MAGA elements, e.g., Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, criticize it as regime change and “about oil.”

    • Quote [11:15]:
      “Now it’s the same playbook, except we’re told that the drugs were the WMDs.” – Rep. Thomas Massie.

  • Congressional leaders (Schumer, Jeffries) demand briefings but lack effective recourse.

    • DG: “Or what? What are you going to do?...If they were going to do that, they would have done it before the invasion.” ([12:10])

Chilling Broader Implications

• [13:10–16:11]

  • Trump hints at Cuba as a possible next target.

  • AG references Fiona Hill's 2019 testimony: Russia floated abandoning Venezuela if the U.S. gave up Ukraine. Republicans deny such quid pro quo exists, but actions suggest otherwise.

  • Claims that the invasion is America acting “on its own, without cooperation, to advance its national interest.”

  • Wall Street investors (mentioned: Charles Myers, Signum Global) are flying to Venezuela to assess up to $750 billion in “reconstruction opportunities.”

    • DG dubs them the “Halliburton of 2025.”

  • Quote [16:19]: “‘You have to do what we say.’ When Trump says that…the new interim president has to do what we say, you have to let my rich buddies…come down and take all your oil. That’s what we mean when we say do what we say.” – AG

  • Cynical Observation:
    DG: “What’s to stop Trump from just walking into Greenland at this point?...A lot of these are litmus tests to see what happens in this country. And they’re like, ‘Oh, all right, there’s no pushback. Let’s keep going.’” ([17:03])

Congressional Conflict of Interest

• [17:36–18:10]
  • AG points out that Wall Street investments in Venezuela will funnel into Congressional Republican coffers via dark money and insider trading.
    • AG: “We should pass the no trading stock thing for members of Congress…Just do that real quick before…Not now. Now the Republicans would be like, I think we should probably wait so that I can make $10 million on Venezuelan oil.”

3. Hot Notes: Good News for Democrats in Texas

• [18:10–24:24]

  • For the first time in history, Democrats will contest every state and federal seat on the Texas ballot in 2026, thanks to a major coordinated recruitment effort (Texas Majority PAC, TDP, Beto O’Rourke, Wendy Davis).

    • “No Republican gets a free ride in Texas.” – Kendall Scudder, Texas Democratic Party Chair ([19:34])

  • Running everywhere increases turnout, communicates the party’s message directly—even in deeply red rural areas.

    • AG: “Politics needs to be bottom up and middle out. 100%.” ([19:54])

  • Historical note: Since 1994, Democrats have left an average of 50 seats uncontested each cycle.

  • Quote [24:24]: “This feels like a Stacey Abrams moment in Texas right now… I have a lot of faith for the midterms, even with the gerrymandered maps.” – DG

  • AG urges Dems nationally to adopt this strategy: knock on every door, field candidates everywhere, ask voters what they want directly.

4. Good News and Listener Submissions

• [24:59–38:21]

  • Indivisible campaign: listeners can easily email Congress to oppose U.S. actions in Venezuela ([31:14]).

  • Heartfelt listener letters about resilience, activism, and pets—moments that balance the show’s tough political analysis with warmth and humor.

  • Notable moment:

    • Listener “Scubak” credits the show’s Good News segment for reminding him “to not let the bastards win and to keep my chin up…” ([31:19])
    • Community shares photos of quilts, adorable pets, and nature moments, merging political resistance with everyday joys.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [04:27] AG: “Yesterday, Trump resurrected the interventionist foreign policy he had mocked for years. Under his orders, American troops invaded Venezuela and seized the president and the First Lady.”
• [06:30] AG: “Trump said that Congress couldn’t be trusted because Congress has a tendency to leak.”
• [07:22] AG: “She [Delsey Rodriguez] can hold power as long as she does what we want. That’s a quote.”
• [11:15] Rep. Thomas Massie (quoted): "Now it’s the same playbook, except we’re told that the drugs were the WMDs."
• [12:10] DG: “Or what? What are you going to do?...If they were going to do that, they would have done it before the invasion.”
• [16:19] AG: “You have to do what we say…you have to let my rich buddies come in who gave me a billion dollars during the election, the oil barons, and…take all your oil.”
• [17:03] DG: “What’s to stop Trump from just walking into Greenland at this point…if there’s no consequences for what he’s done right now in Venezuela?”
• [19:34] Kendall Scudder: “No Republican gets a free ride in Texas.”
• [19:54] AG: “Just like the economy, politics needs to be bottom up and middle out.”
• [24:24] DG: “This feels like a Stacey Abrams moment in Texas right now.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–03:20: Show intro, Jan. 6 anniversary, “Charismatic Megaplastics,” Epstein FOIA update
• 04:27–18:10: Detailed Venezuela invasion coverage, global/world reactions, Congressional fallout, Wall Street’s designs on Venezuela
• 18:10–24:24: Texas Democrats’ full-ballot campaign—transformational organizing strategies
• 24:59–38:21: Listener interaction, good news, and community resilience

Tone and Takeaways

The episode is punchy, urgent, and deeply skeptical about the official rationalizations for the U.S. action in Venezuela. Allison and Dana blend serious political insight with justified outrage and sardonic humor, especially regarding the “real” motivations behind the invasion and the ineffectiveness of current Congressional oversight. They highlight grassroots organizing wins while encouraging political engagement and mutual support—balancing hard news with moments of hope and community.

For Next Steps

• For context on the condensed Jack Smith testimony, see AG’s Substack ([03:20])
• To voice opposition to the Venezuela intervention, use Indivisible’s form (see show notes) ([31:14])
• For more action and to submit good news, go to dailybeanspod.com

Summary prepared by The Daily Beans Podcast Summarizer